Do you REALLY know your bra size?

Bettie

Bettie wrote: »

A couple of months ago I tried one from ASDA costing £3 in the sale in a 34f, I thought it better fitting than any other and gave good shape, not brilliant but bearable all day at work.
I then bought another 6 of them. They are underwired - never thought I'd see the day I wore underwires all day!

To add to the above, I went to Asda yesterday and bought another two bras - 2 for £8 now, in the same size and the same number and name on the tag. When I got home I tried them on and they were way too big both in cup and band. I held it up against the others and it was nearly two inches longer around. So when making a bra on the factory line with the same name tags and presumably same pattern, I fail to see how they can get the sizes so very different.:(

morocha

hi, i wear the typical padded ones. I can only go to high street shops because in my area there are not profesional bra shops ( rural).i usually tend to buy a 36 B in Debenhams too.. but the cups are a bit big... i know i need to get a proper fit, i think next time i go to London, i will go one. x

CupOfChai

I already knew how to tell if a bra fit me properly, but even so this is a great thread! Blue_monkey, thank you for confirming my suspicion that the reason I have only found one shop where the bras fit me properly is the shops' fault and not me being weird! I've also had another look at the bras that I already 'knew' fit me after seeing the advice given here and I was right, they fit perfectly. So now I'm reassured that other people agree I'm right so I definitely know what I'm doing.

Question: I was advised in a shop that will remain nameless, that it is good if the bra fits you when you do it up on the last hooks (that is, the ones that make it loosest not tightest) because this means that if the elastic 'gives' over time and becomes too loose then you can rein it in to still fit. Obviously not everyone will be able to fit it like this depending on their exact measurements, but is it still a good thing to do or do you have to fit the bra so you have it on the tightest hook?

God, I hate seeing women in obviously the wrong size. Newsflash - the four boob effect (overspill) is NOT a good look!

blue_monkey_2

Bettie wrote: »

To add to the above, I went to Asda yesterday and bought another two bras - 2 for £8 now, in the same size and the same number and name on the tag. When I got home I tried them on and they were way too big both in cup and band. I held it up against the others and it was nearly two inches longer around. So when making a bra on the factory line with the same name tags and presumably same pattern, I fail to see how they can get the sizes so very different.:(

It is because they would have 2 different companies making the same items - whoever can make them the cheapest at the time gets the business. They are not subject to the same sort of testing our brands are and they are substandard I am afraid. They do not care if your bra only lasts 2 wears but all branded bras have a name to live up to, their reputation depends on their products being good.

For that £5 they knock them up quick to knock them out cheap. The materials are substandard - this is 'throwaway fashion', only good for the bin after a couple of wears. Its a false economy. A good bra will last you up to 2 years if you look after it and hand wash it.

If you are paying £5 for a bra (at the usual price, not sale price) then the quality is going to be nothing special because they are not subject to the same rigorous testing as branded bras, and nor will the have the same structure and support. Yes, you pay more for a branded bra more but there is a reason for it so bear this in mind. You can get branded bras much cheaper (past seasons, sale lines - pay a few extra ££ and buy these instead but make sure you can send things back before buying. Never buy from anyone who does not accept returns - even on sale goods.)

Sorry about that, that was a bit of a lecture but cheap supermarket bras are really not worth the money - buy past season branded bras, they cost a little more but you'll get 5 times the wear out if it so you really are getting more for your money.

blue_monkey_2

CupOfChai wrote: »

I already knew how to tell if a bra fit me properly, but even so this is a great thread! Blue_monkey, thank you for confirming my suspicion that the reason I have only found one shop where the bras fit me properly is the shops' fault and not me being weird! I've also had another look at the bras that I already 'knew' fit me after seeing the advice given here and I was right, they fit perfectly. So now I'm reassured that other people agree I'm right so I definitely know what I'm doing.

:T

Question: I was advised in a shop that will remain nameless, that it is good if the bra fits you when you do it up on the last hooks (that is, the ones that make it loosest not tightest) because this means that if the elastic 'gives' over time and becomes too loose then you can rein it in to still fit. Obviously not everyone will be able to fit it like this depending on their exact measurements, but is it still a good thing to do or do you have to fit the bra so you have it on the tightest hook?

God, I hate seeing women in obviously the wrong size. Newsflash - the four boob effect (overspill) is NOT a good look!

In answer to your question: Yes, this is correct for 99% of women and the bra should always be worn on the first hook (hard to know how to put it, LOL). There are some women - and I am one of them - who wears it on the tightest hook because I am inbetween a 30 and a 32 in Panache and I just do not like how loose a 32 feels but a 30 is too tight.

However.... I have not, personally, had bra that has become too loose over time to be honest, I've never had to use hooks 2 and 3 for that reason, the materials are made to last unless you get unlucky, and the lace in the cups tends to wear before the band.

:rotfl: No, this time of year is the worst, at least in the winter the 4 boobs are hidden under layers of wool and a coat!!

Oh no...... Don't even get me started on going to the pool and in the beach. ladies please invest in swimsuits that fit. Why, why why are women happy to wear such ill fitting swimsuits??

PS. I have also now realised that this thread makes me sound like a complete perv for staring at women on the street in at the pool. I am afraid that it comes with the job. Boobs first, face 2nd (I'll be tutting silently) :o:o:o:o

Loz01

blue_monkey wrote: »

Yes, easy done. I had a 34C come to see me and she was a 30E. LOL, bet your boobs feel bigger now though. :rotfl:

Glad you have got fitted, you'll feel much better for it. :T

Definitely she went wading past the D's and DD's, I was like :eek: oh god, what size am I?! She also said I could probs wear a 30F seeing as Im quite skinny round the middle, but to go up a cup size if I go down to a 30 (if that makes sense??)

PinkLipgloss

blue_monkey,

I too am shocked by the sight of some women in Summer. I think you should start a national campaign on the streets to raise awareness!

Bettie

blue_monkey wrote: »

I
If you are paying £5 for a bra (at the usual price, not sale price) then the quality is going to be nothing special because they are not subject to the same rigorous testing as branded bras, and nor will the have the same structure and support. Yes, you pay more for a branded bra more but there is a reason for it so bear this in mind. You can get branded bras much cheaper (past seasons, sale lines - pay a few extra ££ and buy these instead but make sure you can send things back before buying. Never buy from anyone who does not accept returns - even on sale goods.)

Sorry about that, that was a bit of a lecture but cheap supermarket bras are really not worth the money - buy past season branded bras, they cost a little more but you'll get 5 times the wear out if it so you really are getting more for your money.

Thanks for reply but if you see my other post in this thread you will appreciate that I have a drawerful of top quality expensive bras that I've never worn/worn once simply because they are too uncomfortable despite being fitted many times in many different shops and this is the first time _ever_ that I can wear a bra all day without being miserable so I am well pleased with the Asda cheap bra that I found and I have washed it about 20 times in the machine in a net bag and it is still fine. The one lesson learned for me is to always try on a bra to make sure it fits because the manufacturer may change the pattern/supplier or sometimes the hanger may not match the garment ( happened a few weeks ago with a sale item) so that is always worth checking.
One thing that puzzles me about buying online is the general rules on postage. I was looking at a site last week and it charged postage, so if I bought a bra and paid postage and then found it didn't fit, would I have to pay again to send it back? and then they could send another size and if that didn't fit I'd pay again etc etc.. I can see someone, me or them or both, would end up paying an awful lot of stamp money for maybe nothing...

cazziebo

PinkLipgloss wrote: »

Mia,

I can't remember its name - I've texted my mate to ask her and will post when she replies.

It's absolutely nothing to look at - looks kind of like a "granny" shop from the outside which put me off. However, it came highly recommended so I decided to give it a go with no regrets. Highly professional staff and great selection of brands/styles.

Coming from Stirling Train Station direction, you walk right the way up through the Arcade (located opposite McDonalds) , leave the arcade and its the first shop on your right as you come out.

Let me know how you get on,

Lipgloss

It's called the Personal Touch on King St (next to Beanscene). This shop completely changed my self-perception!

I'd been measured as a 36a by M&S & Debenham's years ago and resigned myself to being a shapeless lump. I was looking for a skintone strapless bra and went in here on the offchance and asked for a 36a. The assistants refused to sell me one, insisting that it wouldn't fit. I agreed to be measured and found I'm really a 30d! I have a lovely shape now - pity it took me to nearly 50 to find a proper fitter!

PinkLipgloss

cazziebo wrote: »

It's called the Personal Touch on King St (next to Beanscene). This shop completely changed my self-perception!

I'd been measured as a 36a by M&S & Debenham's years ago and resigned myself to being a shapeless lump. I was looking for a skintone strapless bra and went in here on the offchance and asked for a 36a. The assistants refused to sell me one, insisting that it wouldn't fit. I agreed to be measured and found I'm really a 30d! I have a lovely shape now - pity it took me to nearly 50 to find a proper fitter!

I also found it makes a huge difference to how I look overall - glad a friend recommended them to me.

Staff were lovely - I thought I'd be embarrassed but I wasn't.